Elevator shafts pierce sky at site of new St. Mary’s hospital

Work on the new St. Mary hospital on Janesville's east side has progressed through the winter so far. A pair of elevator shafts now rise over the site, while much of the structure's foundation is also moving forward.

JANESVILLE  Despite what highway passersby might perceive as inaction, St. Mary’s Janesville Hospital and the Dean Clinic are on track to open late next year.

Contractors, including the Janesville-based J.P. Cullen & Sons, broke ground in October for the $150 million hospital and clinic campus near the intersection of Racine Street and Interstate 90/39 on the city’s southeast side.

“We had a really good November, and they’ve been working along steadily ever since,” said Kerry Swanson, president of St. Mary’s Janesville. “We’re actually right on schedule.”

When it opens in late 2011, the new St. Mary’s Janesville Hospital and Dean Clinic Janesville will directly employ nearly 700 people. Officials have estimated that another 150 or so indirect jobs will serve the hospital and clinic.

The main entrance will be off Racine Street at Midland Road. The drive and patient drop-off zones will be near a “Town Square,” a common area that will marry the hospital and clinic.

The $90 million hospital will use about 163,000 square feet, while the $60 million clinic will occupy 150,000 square feet.

Since November, crews have been working on the foundation and footings for the hospital.

That’s about 80 percent complete, Swanson said.

“But it’s really difficult to see because its been going on below ground level,” she said. “In the next couple of weeks, people will be able to see the patient elevator and stair tower emerge.

“It will be exciting to finally be able to see something from the road.”

Foundation work for the clinic likely will start by the end of the month, followed quickly by structural steel work on the hospital portion.

Craig Samitt, Dean’s president and CEO, said completed work includes rough grading, pond construction, sewer and water utilities, underground electric service, excavation and the laying of a gravel base for parking lots.

Hospital and clinic officials continue to work on their final design plans.

Swanson said much of that work centers on the location of equipment in the building. The proper design, she said, will optimize convenience and efficiency for patents and staff.

Swanson and Samitt have said that a critical element of the design process has been input from staff and doctors.

When the new Dean Clinic opens, the provider will close its Riverview and Northview branches in Janesville. Samitt said Dean should be able to move its operations from the Riverview and Northview clinics to the new facility in one day or over a weekend.